Collapsible box



P 1934.: s. WORONIECKI 1,972,396

COLLAPS IBLE BOX Filed July 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 20*) y III] Ii4,20

I 2 3* 36 36 I t 34 I 22 I /6 my. 1 27 INVENTOR Jifm l/orozwe cA'J'ATI'OR EY Sept. 4, 1934. s. WORONIECKI COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed July 51.1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A mm mm 0 m J/efan W A ORNE Patented Sept. 4, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in packing boxes.More particularly my invention relates to a collapsible box which isprovided with means to detachably secure the bottom, sides, top and endsof the box together in such a manner that the said parts are readilydetached and removed when it is desirable to collapse the box, and whichmeans also permits ready and easy insertion of these said parts when itis found desirable to build up the box.

A further object of my invention is to provide a packing box, which isnot only adapted to be readily collapsed or built up, but to provide abox which is strong, durable and capable of with-- standing aconsiderable amount of rough wear and abuse in handling and intransportation. In actual use, a number of boxes embodying my inventionwere used by a large bakery in the transportation of bread. These boxeswere thrown in and about the plant, in and out of trucks and in andabout retail establishments where bread was sold. These boxes are atthis writing still in actual operation and have outlived by many timesthe usage obtained from ordinary nailed boxes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box which will permit thereplacement of worn parts withlittle expense and a minimum delay.Another object of my invention is to provide a box which is simple inconstruction and may be therefore readily collapsed or built up by theaverage stevedore and is also economical in construction.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together withothers inherent in the same, are attained by the device, illustrated inthe following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms ofembodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like referencenumerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the completed box.

Fig. 2 is a section in plan on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one side broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section showing thecorner construction.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation with the sides removed showing by fulllines, the ends in holding position relative to the bottom and by dottedlines, the ends tilted at an incline to receive or release the bottom.

Fig. 6 is an alternative construction.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view partly in cross section and partly in planof one end of the box with wires connecting the corners to supportpartitions, a partition being shown in place.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the corner construction andwires shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative cornerconstruction.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing adaptor means to beused in connection with slats, when the same are desirable instead ofsolid panels.

Fig. 11 is an alternative construction showing another means forsecuring the partition supporting wires in place.

Fig. 12 is a detached view in cross section on broken line 12-12 of Fig.7.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative bottomconstruction.

Fig. 14. is a fragmentary sectional view of a box corner.

The panels forming the top, bottom, ends or sides may be made of anydesirable material depending upon the uses to which the box is to beput, which materials are well known in the art and comprise among otherssolid wood, veneer or plywood, metallic, artificial compositions, paper,rubber or slate. Also slat or strip construction of any of the foregoingmay also be used. However, if such strip construction is used, it ispreferable that the ends of slats 14 be first inserted into the groovesof adaptors 15 (see Fig. 10).

16 represents the bottom panel, 17 the top panel, 18 the side panels and19 the end panels. 20 represents the U shaped metallic end members eachhaving panel receiving grooves. These U shaped end members preferablyconsist of two side members, each of which comprises members 21 and 22,(see Fig. 4) Members 21 and 22 are substantially U shaped in crosssection and each have a base on a plane, which plane intersects theplanes of the leg members at an angle of 45. The members 21 and 22 arepreferably welded together at their respective bases at 23 so that theopen ends of the U portions of the members 21 and 22 will be at an angleof 90 to each other. Obviously rivets or other securing means may besubstituted for welding.

In Fig. 9 I have shown an alternative construction of the sides of thepanel end receiving members which comprises two members 24 and 25secured together at 26, preferably by welding or by other means asdescribed in connection with members 21 and 22. Other substitutes may beused for the sides of the panel receiving members and in case of a boxfor lighter duty where extreme economy is necessary, the ends of members18 and 19 (see Fig. 14) may be placed adjacent each other within a rightangle member 50.

The bottom of each U shaped panel receiving member 20 is preferablyformed of a base member 27 of a 90 angle, in cross section, which memberis suitably secured to the side members of 20. In Fig. 13, I have shownan alternative construction for the member 27, which alternativeconstruction provides two parallel members 28 to encompass the end ofthe base panel 16 and an upright member 29 adjacent the end 19.

Supporting members 30 connect together the open ends of panel receivingmembers 20. Top securing members 31 are suitably secured to supportingmembers 80. Obviously, members 30 and 31 may be made integral, or 30 maybe eliminated if found desirable. End 32 of the top securing member 31is blocked as by turning (as shown in Fig. 3) so the top panel 17 mustbe drawn out away from this end. By such blocking only one end of thetop panel receiving guide is open for withdrawing the panel 17, and tosecure the top 17 in position only this one end thereafter need beblocked. This securing is accomplished by depressing end 33, as shown inFig. 3. End 33 may be thereafter turned up to permit withdrawal of thetop panel or turned down to secure the same in place. The channelforming end members 20 are pivotally secured together and permitswinging movement of the.

channel forming members as respects each other by suitable means aswires 34, which wires are preferably provided with right angle portions35 mounted in bearings 35. Obviously the end members 20 may be otherwisesecured together, as ior example by a similar connecting member locatedwithin the box without departing from my invention.

To assemble my box, the ends 19 are first inserted from the top and sliddownwardly and the members 28 are turned in the position shown in brokenlines in Fig. 5. It is to be noted that the top panel receiving members31 are positioned so they will not interfere with the insertion of theend panels 19, (see Fig. 5). In this position the channel forming endmembers 20 are in position to receive the bottom panel lfiand during theinsertion of the panel 16, the channel forming end members 20 arereturned to an upright position.

/ Then the side panels 18 are slid downwardly from the top. By theinsertion of the side members 13, the channel forming end members aresecured in an upright position, which members in such position retainthe bottom 16 in its position.

Obviously, the sequence in which the parts are inserted may be varied,except the bottom must be inserted before the sides. After the box hasbeen loaded, the top 17, which is somewhat larger than the bottom, isslid into place and the top 17 is held in place by turning end 33 aspreviously described, which securing can be obviously had by means ofcotter pins or other similar devices. When the top panel 17 is inposition it will prevent the sides 13, and ends 19 from being withdrawn,which parts in turn prevent the with drawal of the bottom panel 16, thusthe single top panel locks the other panels.

In the alternative construction in Fig. 6, I have shown two wires 37 and38 pivotally secured to I 3 members 20' by bearings 39. Wire 3'? has aneye 40 at its end and wire 38 has a hook 41 at its end adapted to engagethe eye 40; Wire i2 having hooks 43 at its ends, is adapted to securethe respective eyes 40 together. This construction permits the samemovements as the other construction (shown in Fig. 5), is stronger andmay be more completely dismounted by removing hooks 41 and 43 from eyes40 and then turning wires 3'? and 38 up and down respectively andremoving wire 42.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 12, I have shown engaging means 44 secured betweenmembers 21 and 22 having suitable means for engaging wires 45 as holes46. I have shown a partition 47 in Fig. 7 With holes therein showing anadaptation of my device to the carrying of bottles. Obviously otheradaptations with varying numbers of par titions with or without holeswill be apparent to those skilled in the box art.

In Fig. 11, I have shown an alternative manner of providing a securingmeans for the wires supporting the partitions. This is accomplished bysuitable securing (as by welding) between 21 and 22,, of wires 48 aroundwhich wires 45 may be readily secured.

If slats are to be used, instead of solid members, it is preferable thatthe ends of slats 14 be first inserted into the grooves in members 15and then that these he slipped in as a unit. (See Fig. 10). the slats14, the slats will secure the retainers 15 in place, which retainers inturn keep the slats 14 separated.

The terms, ends, sides, bottom and top of the box are used herein in arelative sense and the scope of these terms shall not be limited by anyarbitrary position of the box and shall include members having similarfunctions to those set forth in the drawings herein.

7 Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions andarrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from theprinciple thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms ofembodiment.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible box, a channel forming member comprising two legmembers having channels adapted to detachably. receive the ends of sidebox panels and of end box panels, a base member having a channel adaptedto detachably receive the ends of a box bottom panel, a channel formingmember adapted to detachably receive the ends of a box top paneLall ofsaid channel members being secured together and means carried by the legmembers adapted to pivotally receive securing means to another channelforming member.

2. In a collapsible box, a channel forming member comprising two legmembers having channels adapted to receive the ends of side box panelsand of end box panels, a base member having a channel adapted to enclosethe ends of a box bottom panel, a channel forming member adapted toreceive the ends of a box top panel, all of said channel members beingsecured together and means carried by the leg members adapted topivotally receive securing means to another channel forming member.

3. A collapsible box comprising channel forming members positioned atthe ends of the box, means for securing said channel forming memberstogethen'panel members adapted to be received by said channel formingmembers, partition supporting means, disposed within the box, anddevices connecting said partition supporting means with said channelforming members.

4. In a collapsible box the combination of panel end receiving membersand connecting means'pivotaliy mounted to said members, said pivotalmounting being located intermediate the As the retainers 15 are on theends of .l

height of said end members whereby ends may be inclined toward eachother for assembling or disassembling purposes.

5. A collapsible box comprising channel forming members positioned atthe ends of the box; means pivotally connected to each of said channelforming members and positioned upon the respective sides of the boxintermediate the height thereof; and panel members adapted to bereceived by said channel forming members, whereby the channel formingmembers may be pivoted permitting the insertion of a bottom panel andsuch pivotal movement prevented after the insertion of side panels.

6. A collapsible box comprising channel forming members positioned atthe ends of the box; means positioned upon the respective sides of thebox intermediate the height thereof swingingly connecting the channelforming members as respects each other and panel members adapted to bereceived by said channel forming members, whereby the channel formingmembers may be moved permitting the insertion of a bottom panel and suchmovement prevented after the insertion of side panels.

7. A collapsible box comprising channel forming members positioned atthe respective ends of the box; each channel forming member beingadapted to detachably and slidingly receive the end portions of end,side, and bottom panels; and means, positioned on and intermediate theheight or" each of two sides, swingingly connecting said channel formingmembers as respects each other, whereby the channel forming members maybe moved for the insertion of a bottom panel and such swinging movementprevented after the insertion of side panels.

8. A collapsible box comprising channel forming members positioned atthe respective ends of the box; each channel forming member beingadapted to detachably and slidingly receive the end portions of end,side, and bottom panels; means, positioned on and intermediate theheight of each of two sides, swingingly connecting said channel formingmembers as respects each other, whereby the channel forming members maybe moved for the insertion of a bottom panel and such swinging movementprevented after the insertion of side panels; and other channel meanscarried by the channel forming members adapted to secure a top panel inplace against vertical movement, said last named channel means beingremotely disposed as respects the path of movement for the insertion andremoval of said end and side panels.

9. In a collapsible box, the combination of panel end receiving membersand connecting means therebetween, said connecting means being mountedon oppositely disposed sides and located intermediate the height of saidpanel end receiving members and swingingly mounting said panel andreceiving members as respects each other, whereby said panel endreceiving members may be inclined towards each other for assembling ordisassembling purposes.

10. In a collapsible box, a rectangular metallic end member providedwith substantially permanently secured together top, bottom and legmember; slot forming means, adapted to slidingly receive the endportions of side and end panels, said slot forming means being carriedby each of said leg members and each or" said slot forming means providig slots disposed s bstantially at right angles to each other; panel endretaining means carried by said bottom member and adapted to slidinglyreceive the end portions of end and bottom panels, said end and bottompanels being retained substantially at right angles to each other; andother slot forming means carried by said top end member and adapted toslidingly receive the end portion of a top panel in place againstvertical movement, said last named slot forming means being disposedoutside of the path of movement in slidingly receiving or removing saidside and end panels. STEFAN WORONIECKI.

